Trail-oriented development is a design and implementation approach that intentionally blurs the boundary between trails and nearby properties by creating and expanding adjacent amenities. Communities across the country are investing in local trails and reaping the benefits of active transportation. Whether residents use them for biking to work or walking for recreation, new trails add […]

Micromobility has transformed how Americans move through their communities, including on multiuse trails. Personal and shared mobility options such as electric-assist bicycles (e-bikes) and e-scooters (scooters)  are now common in all types of communities. Rails to Trails Conservancy offers the perspectives in this document to assist communities, trail managers and policymakers in making decisions about […]

In 2022, SACOG adopted the Sacramento Regional Trail Network Action Plan (2022 Action Plan), which presented a long-term vision for a connected, multi-county Regional Trail Network. The Action Plan identified over 1,000miles of priority corridors that, when fully built, will form a cohesive system linking communities throughout the region. Building directly on that foundation, this […]

The team at Rails to Trails Conservancy is thrilled to partner with Special Olympics for a Celebrate Trails Day session focused on strategies for creating outdoor spaces that foster inclusive opportunities for physical activity, recreation, and everyday life. This webinar explored strategies to engage people with and without intellectual disabilities (ID) in trail programming, strategies […]

Bicycles are a useful mode of transportation for short trips (one to three miles) beyond walkable distance but accessible without an automobile. Municipalities across North America are developing strategies to facilitate biking as a mode of transportation with a place-based mix of on-street facilities and bike-friendly policies. As these same communities leverage public transit assets […]

HeartLands Conservancy was hired as the project consultant to prepare this Master Plan for a county-wide bicycle and pedestrian trail system in Madison County, Illinois known as MCT Trails. This trail system is operated by the Agency for Community Transit (ACT), the private non-profit organization is responsible for operating the Madison County Transit (MCT) public […]

Many states have made significant investments in trail and active transportation planning to guide and coordinate the development of their trail networks. When actively used, these plans can guide strategic investments, unlock funding opportunities, and foster cross-agency collaboration, turning vision into reality.  In this session, our presenters shared strategies for creating comprehensive plans, building partnerships, […]

The Virginia Creeper Trail is a critical economic asset in Southwest Virginia, serving as a powerful engine for tourism, small business activity, and economic resilience across Washington, Grayson, Smyth, and Russell counties. This 34-mile trail saw over 348,400 single uses in 2023, representing more than 112,600 visitors coming to the region to use the Virginia […]

The Maryland State Transportation Trails Strategic Plan has been developed collaboratively by the Maryland Department of Transportation, the Department of Natural Resources, state agency partners, stakeholders, and the public to strengthen the transportation trails network across the state, guide project selection for shared use paths, and offer municipalities and trail advocates tools to overcome common […]

Railbanking, established in 1983 as an amendment to the National Trails System Act, is the foundational law making possible thousands of miles of rail-trails nationwide. Recently, a bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would effectively destroy the viability of railbanking going forward, resulting in fragmented and lost corridors—and poses a threat […]